Worcester sidewalk projects in full swing

WORCESTER — A lot of people are walking in the streets near City Hall and they are not all jaywalkers.

There is a good reason people are stepping into the streets downtown.

Two major sidewalk renovation projects are under way across the street from each other, and another in the works for next year. The main purpose of the sidewalk replacement projects is to create safe, accessible and aesthetically pleasing sidewalks.

The first project started in the spring and includes the replacement of sidewalks around City Hall from the underground parking garage on Front Street around to Main Street.

The approximately $1 million project around City Hall is an extension of the renovation project that began several years ago with work on the Common, according to Department of Public Works and Parks Commissioner Robert L. Moylan Jr.

"It will be done this year," Mr. Moylan said. In addition, he said another segment of sidewalk replacement around City Hall that was not included in the original plan will begin this fall, subject to weather.

"What you will also see is complete new ornamental street lighting," Mr. Moylan said.

Basically, the second project will involve replacing the sidewalks on the side of the Common behind City Hall. Sidewalks will be replaced from the underground garage driveway heading east on Front Street and wrap around the back side of the Common up to Franklin Street, according to Mr. Moylan. That sidewalk project will cost approximately $1 million.

The sidewalks on Franklin Street east of the driveway will not be replaced because they are architecturally consistent with the rest of the work, but the streetlights will be replaced.

"That's the plan," Mr. Moylan said.

Across from City Hall, construction fencing recently went up closing sidewalks on Front Street from Dunkin' Donuts to Commercial Street.

In addition to replacing the sidewalks, traffic signals and street lighting will also be replaced as part of the $3.6 million renovation project, according to Mr. Moylan.

The concrete for the sidewalks and the brick banding near the intersections will be consistent with nearby CitySquare.

The project will encompass Front Street on the north side to the west side of Commercial Street down to Foster Street, and then both sides of Foster Street to Main Street. The walks will also be replaced on the south side of Franklin Street from Main Street to Salem Street.

One of the impediments to the work on the Dunkin' Donuts and Midtown Mall side of the street is that some of the basements of the downtown buildings extend to within four or five feet under Front Street.

"We have agreements with the owners," Mr. Moylan said. "We'll give them a new roof structure" (over their basements under the street.)

Mr. Moylan said that the Front Street project is expensive because of the basements as well as the need to go slow to accommodate the businesses' needs to stay open and have access throughout construction. Officers are posted in the construction area to help direct pedestrians.

Construction crews Thursday placed temporary ramps for wheelchairs in front of the fenced off space for customers to male their way to the Midtown Mall.

"All the local businesses will have access and they can all be open," said Ron Miner, construction supervisor for Millbury-based J. H. Lynch.

People were making their way in and out of all the stores on Front Street Thursday. Muhammad Akram, manager of Boost Mobile at 30 Front St., said he understands the need for new sidewalks — he said he has seen wheelchairs topple on the sloping pavement.

"I know we need this fixed up, but I would like signs put up to let people know the businesses are open," Mr. Akram said. "My concern is that people know we'll be open."

Worcester has other ongoing sidewalk projects, including replacing the sidewalks and street lighting around Elm Park and ongoing routine sidewalk replacements throughout the city.

Another major sidewalk replacement project is in the works for 2014, according to Mr. Moylan. Preliminary plans are being developed to replace all sidewalks, ornamental street lighting and traffic lights from Central Street through Main Street to Myrtle Street.

Between seven and nine traffic lights are slated to be replaced at a cost in excess of $4 million, though estimates have not been determined yet, Mr. Moylan said. It costs approximately $200,000 to replace each traffic light.

"There are still funding gaps that need to be resolved before that goes to bid," Mr. Moylan said.

Mr. Moylan said of all the downtown sidewalk projects, "People will notice because so much is being done."

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